Climate Change

Increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels and more intense extreme weather events mean the Pacific islands are the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Our populations are expected to be among the first that will need to adapt to climate change or even abandon traditional homelands and relocate.

Climate change is the most significant long-term threat to food security and traditional livelihoods in the region, and adaptation costs will be disproportionately high relative to national incomes. Appropriate policies and strategies need to be put in place now to ensure that communities are equipped with the necessary skills and tools to adapt to these changes in order to minimise the economic, social and cultural costs associated with climate change.

See the poem that brought world leaders to tears at the UN Climate Summit by Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner from the Marshall Islands

“We’ve seen waves crashing into our homes and our breadfruit trees wither from salt and droughts. We look at our children and wonder how they will know themselves or their culture should they lose our islands..No one’s becoming a climate change refugee…We are drawing the line here.”- Kathy Jetnil-Kijinert

Predicted Consequences of Climate Change on Food Security:

Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns will affect agricultural yields and the type of crops that can be grown.

Increasingly extreme rainfall patterns may result in production losses due to heat stress, drought conditions and waterlogging, increased flooding of river catchments and soil erosion

Climate induced changes in rainfall pattern, temperature and wind directions could also result in the introduction and establishment of new pests and disease carrying vectors, especially insects, further threatening production. These diseases can include zoonotic diseases, diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans threatening livestock populations and human health

Predicted increases in humidity levels, which are supportive of plant fungal diseases, are capable of wiping out crops, as occurred with taro leaf blight in Samoa in the 1990s. These changes in pest and disease status and occurrences can also affect a country’s ability to access export markets or lose existing markets.

Sea-level rises will increase coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion will contaminate groundwater sources leading to the loss of productive land.

Atolls countries are in a uniquely vulnerable position to sea-level rises given the limited agricultural land currently available. Increased salt water intrusion will further limit what can be grown in these harsh environments and will exacerbate the existing threats to food security. This is likely to increase reliance on imported processed food

Managing water resources may become more difficult and costly as a result of changes in rainfall patterns and salt water intrusion.

Climate change will also contribute to the erosion of genetic diversity in the region and the interaction of agro-biodiversity within food and agriculture ecosystems. Disruption to ecosystem services such as pollination, soil fertilisation and the natural biological control of plant and animal pests will also threaten food production

These potential consequences pose a dire threat to Pacific Islanders health as reduced production and consumption of local foods will increase already high demand for imported foods which are high in sugar, unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates and salt increasing the risk of non- communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

What can we do?

Unless we act now, climate change will constitute a major barrier to the achievement of sustainable development and viable food production goals for all Pacific island countries, while threatening the very existence of many of them. Pacific leaders have recognised the urgency of addressing climate change impacts and have prioritised action on climate change under the Pacific Plan in 2008 and 2009.

Pacific Gender and Climate Change Toolkit for PractitionersGender equality is central to achieving a sustainable and resilient future for Pacific islands.This toolkit is designed to support climate change practitioners working in nationalgovernments, non-governmental organisations, regional and international organisations,integrate gender into all aspects of policy, programming and project work. Includes module on Health and Food Security.

A huge Vinaka Vakalevu to the Ministry of Health Fiji for allowing the use of their beautiful photographs from the Khana Kakana Project and to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the wonderful photos from their projects around the Pacific.